Sheet-metal chair adjustment.



C.J.TRAVERS.

SHEET METAL CHMR'ADJUSTMENT. APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. 1917- 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' Inventor.-

. 6km Jjraz/ens,

Patented Apr. 16-, 1918.

Cb]. TRAVERS. SHEET METAL CHAIR ADJUSTMENT. APPLICATION mzo OCT. 11. 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 191 8.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

CHARLES J. TRAVERS, OF PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GILSON MANUFACTURING 00., A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SHEET-METAL CHAIR ADJUSTMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed October 11, 1917. Serial No. 195,877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. TRAVERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Washington, in-the county of Ozaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Sheet-Metal Chair Adjustment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in chair-adjustments employed in connection with revolving and tilting-chairs, and the principal objects of the invention are to effect a saving in the manufacture of the adjustment by constructing the same wholly of sheet-metal, with the exception of some minor parts, to reduce the same in weight, and at the same time, construct an adjust ment that is composed of comparatively few parts, is rigid and compact, and fully capable of withstanding the strains incident to its use without liability of its parts working loose.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be. particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a chairadjustment embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view, with the tension-springs omitted, of the adjustment, the several parts occupying their normal position;

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the rocking-yoke Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the tubular transverse bridge forming a part of the stationary-yoke; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in perspective that will be hereinafter referred to.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the drawin s.

The stationary-yoke and its companion the rocking or tilting-y0ke-are each formed of sheet-metal readily stamped and bent to shape, as shown, the two being assembled and pivoted together so as to cooperate in a manner to be described. r

The stationary-yoke comprises opposite vertical sides 1, the, front portions being prolonged or extended upwardly to form vertical parallel necks 2, the frontcdges of which, near their upper ends, are provided with angular or V-shaped notches 3. The rear edges of the necks 2 are, in this instance, vertical, and form abutting edges or stops 4, the functions of which will be herelnafter apparent. In rear of the vertical stops 4, and spaced therefrom, the sides 1 are provided with inclined stops 5.

These sides, it will be understood, may be connected in anymanner suflicient to lend the proper rigidity, but preferably by means of the tubular bridge herein shown and. best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. Referring more particularly to the figures of the drawing mentioned, it will be seen that the tubular bridge may consist of an upper inverted U- shaped section 6, and an inclosed lower plate-section 7, the two being so proportioned relatively that the plate-section is received by the lower edges of the depending sides of the upper section. Thelower edges of the upper section may be and preferably are provided with shallow mortises 8, about midway their length, and in such engage and fit tenons 9, extending laterally from the side-edges of the lower plate-section. In this manner, as will be apparent, the two sections becomes firmly locked together and the bridge as a whole is Well adapted to withstand all strains the same as if formed integral. The ends of each section forming the bridge are provided with tenons 10, that enter corresponding mortisesll (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3,) and beyond the metal of the tenons are headed or slightly upset so as to form. a firm connection between the parts. 7

The upper section 6, of the bridge is provided with an aperture 12, and the lower section 7, is provided with an aperture 13, vertically alining with the aperture 12, but slightly larger than the same and formed with a depending surrounding annular flange 14, produced by slightly drawing out the metal around the aperture. These apertures receive the adjusting-standard 15, the upper reduced end 16, of which passes through and slightly beyond the upper aperranged.

Fig. 4,) comprises opposite vertical sides 18, connected at their upper front edges by a transverse connecting-wall 19, these parts being preferably integrally formed. The lower portions of the sides lS-below the connecting-wall 19are forwardly disposed beyond the vertical plane of the wall 19, as at 20, and provided with. transversely alining apertures 21. The distances between the walls 18 and sides 1 of the stationary-yoke are somewhat greater in the former, so that when assembled, as shown, the stationary-yoke is embraced by the rocking-yoke, the sides 1 of the former being provided near their front edges with apertures 22, transversely alining with the apertures 21 of the latter. Through these pairs of apertures 21 and 22, is passed a transverse pintle 23, the opposite ends of which are headed, whereby, as will be seen, the rocking-yoke becomes pivotallymounted upon the stationary-yoke. When thus assembled, the front-wall 19 of the rockingyoke will be positioned between thevertical stops 4: and the rear inclined stops 5 of the stationary-yoke, and, therefore, the rocking movement of said rocking-yoke will be lim ited to the distance between these stops. When the rocking-yoke occupies its normal position (see Fig. 8,) the front wall thereof will be immediately in rear of and rest against the vertical stops t, and when at the limit of its rearward pivotal movement, said wall will rest against the inclined stops 5.

Engaging with the V-shaped notches 3 of the sides 1 of the stationaryyoke is a transverse tension-bar 24, for detail of which see Fig. 6. This bar is provided near itsends and at its rear edge with a pair of substantially V-shaped notches 25, disposed oppoitely to the notches 3, and adapted toco operate and interlock therewith. Heretofore, it has been customary, in the construe tion of tension-devices of this character, to merely rest the tension-bar in notches similar to the V-shaped notches 3, dependence being placed upon. the tension of the springs for retaining the bar in position. At times, however, the springs are under very little stress, so that in the event the chair is rocked somewhat violently or suddenly returned from an inclined to a normal position, the tension-bar, in such instances, is apt to jump from its engagement entirely or move from its proper relative position,so that the whole adjustment becomes disar- By providing the two sets of notches, however, so that these parts become interlocked, accidental displacement of the tQl'lSlOl'l-bttl becomes practically impossible.

iiict ltS *center, the tension-bar, which is formed of sheetnietalfis given an upward halfround bend 26, and a corresponding eted as at 29, to the underside of the tensionbar. The two bends 26 and 27 produce a circular -aperture through which passes the tension-rod 30, the front end of which, beyond the tension-bar, is threaded to receive the usual tension-adjusting wheel 31. The rear end of the tension-rod 30 is headed, as at 32, passing through an opening 33, formed in the front connecting-wall of the rocking-yoke and through an opening located centrallyin the comp'resssion-plate 34, disposed transversely to and located in rear of the two yokes.

The compression-pl ate is, also, preferably formed of sheet-metal and with rounded flanged ends 35, that receive the rear ends of the compression-s arings 36, the front ends of the latter bearing against therear side of the front connecting-wall 19 or the rocking-yoke. For the purpose of retaining these springs in position, and in this respect, supplementing the flanges 35, I preferably provide front and rearpairs of ta pered sheet-metal guide-studs designated respectively as 37 and 38. These studs enter the opposite ends of the springs, approximately conforming, at their greatest width, to the diameters of the coils thereof, so that the springs'are prevented from any lateral movements from their seats. These guidestuds may be integral with the parts'carryw ing them, but I prefer to provide them with tenons (see dotted lines, Fig. 3,) which en ter corresponding mortises '39, formed in said parts, the outer ends of the tenons being upsetor headed.

It will, of course, be understood. that the side-walls 18, are provided with apertures, as 10,'for the attaching-rivets (not shown) by which the usual. spider-arms etl (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) are secured in position upon the adjustment. Such spider-arms are usually formed of sheet-metal angle-iron, so that, as will be apparent, with the exception of the adjusting-rod, tension-springs. and hand-wheel, the entire chair-adjustment is formed of sheet-metal stamp'edand tent to shape, resulting in both economy of manufacture, strengthand rigidity, as well as comparative lightness. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim, is: t

1. In a chair-adjustment, the-combination with a stationary yoke comprising opposite sides having upwardly disposed extensionsprovided at their front edges with transversely opposite angular notches,of arocking yoke pivoted to said sides and carrying means forattachment'to a chair, a tensionbar having a central opening and at opposite sides thereof having angular notches. arranged at'a right angle to and engaging those of the "yoke, a tension-rodfilocated in 'ntral opening of the tensiornba ed itsfiont' end'threaded-and carry a hand-wheel, a compression-plate at the opposite end of the rod, and tension-springs abutting against the compression-plate and the rocking yoke.

2. In a chair-adjustment, the combination with a stationary yoke comprising opposite vertical extensions of a rocking yokecomprising opposite sides embracing the stationary yoke and a transverse wall connecting the opposite sides mentioned in rear of the vertical extensions of the stationary yoke and bearing thereagainst, pivoting means between the sides of the two yokes, a tension-bar in engagement with and capable of rocking upon the vertical extensions of the stationary yoke and provided with a central opening, means carried by the stationary yoke, for limiting the rearward pivotal movement of the rocking yoke, a tension-rod located in the central opening of the tension-bar and extended rearwardly through an aperture formed in transverse front connecting-wall of the rocking yoke, a hand-wheel threaded on the front end of the rod, a compression-plate carried by the rear end of the rod, and tension-springs abutting against the plate and the front connecting-wall of the rocking yoke.

3. In a chair-adjustment, the combination with a stationary yoke, the same formed of sheet-metal and comprising opposite vertical side extensions and in rear of the same provided with stops spaced from the rear edges of said extensions, of a rocking yoke, formed of sheet-metal and provided with opposite side-walls embracing said extensions of the stationary yoke and pivoted thereto and provided with an intermediate connecting-wall located between said extensions and stops and adapted to abut against either in accordance with its movement, and a tension-device for said rocking yoke.

4-. In a chair-adjustment, the combination with a sheet-metal yoke comprising opposite vertical extensions and an intermediate connection, said extensions being provided with rear vertical edges forming stops and in rear of the same with stop-shoulders, of a rocking yoke comprising opposite sides embracing the extensions and pivoted thereto and an intermediate connecting-wall located between the extensions and shoulders, a tension-bar carried at the front edges of the extensions and provided with an aperture alining with an aperture in said connecting-wall, a tension-rod located in said open ings, a hand-wheel threaded on the front end of the rod, a compression-plate carried by the rear end of the rod, and tensionsprings interposed between the said front connecting-wall of the rocking yoke and said compression-plate.

5. In a chair-adjustment, the combination with a fixed yoke having means for attaching the same to the adjusting-standard and provided with upwardly disposed opposite extensions, 'of a rocking yoke having'upwardly disposed sides and an intermediate connecting wall mounted on and embracing the stationary yoke, stops for limiting the movement of the rocking yoke, a tensionbar mounted on the stationary yoke extensions and having an opening alining with a similar opening in the intermediate connect ing wall of the rocking yoke, a tension-rod mounted in said openings and having a rear headed end, a compression-plate carried by the rod and having opposite flanged ends, sheet-metal guides carried by the compression-plate and the intermediate wall of the movable yoke and having tenons let into mortises in the same, and tension-springs interposed between the I rocln'ng yoke and compression-plate and receiving said guides.

CHARLES J. TRAVERS. Witnesses:

T. A. BOERNER, H. W. BOLENS.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

